Unlike written formats, which primarily communicate evidence through documents, dialogue-oriented formats enable real-time conversations and collaborative learning. They provide opportunities for researchers to better understand policy needs and constraints, while allowing policymakers to access expertise, ask questions, and discuss emerging challenges with experts.

Dialogue-oriented formats can take many forms, including hearings, expert talks, pairing schemes, guided tours of research sites, policy workshops, hackathons, and small-group discussions. Some formats are highly structured and formal, while others encourage informal exchanges and long-term relationship building. Their common feature is the emphasis on interaction rather than one-way communication.

These formats are particularly useful when policymakers seek contextual knowledge, practical insights, or opportunities to discuss complex issues that cannot easily be captured in a written document. At the same time, they help researchers gain a better understanding of political realities, policy priorities, and decision-making processes.

The examples presented in this section illustrate a variety of dialogue-oriented approaches used across Europe. They demonstrate how meaningful exchanges between science and policy can be organised in different institutional and political contexts, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of interactive engagement. Whether conducted in person or online, dialogue-oriented formats can strengthen trust, facilitate knowledge exchange, and contribute to more evidence-informed policymaking.